In Trojan War mythology, Cassandra was the Trojan woman given prophetic powers but cursed never to be believed.
Cassandra was a daughter of King Priam and Queen Hecuba. In the best-known version of her story, Apollo granted her the gift of prophecy, but after she rejected him, he arranged that her true predictions would never win anyone’s trust. The result was a tragic combination of accurate foresight and helplessness.
Cassandra warns the Trojans about the wooden horse, yet they ignore her. Later tradition also gives her visions of the destruction of Troy and the dangers awaiting the royal family. Her story is a recurring example of a prophecy that is correct but politically useless.
Different ancient authors vary in the details of Apollo’s curse. Cassandra is distinct from Helenus, her brother, who is also a Trojan seer and whose prophecies are generally believed.